Improvement in car-axle boxes



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rrnn STATES PATENT OFFICEa JOHN RHOADS, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-AXLE BOXES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 162,950, dated May 4,1875; application filed January 8, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JOHN RHOADS, ofHarrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Journal-Boxes; and I doherebyT declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, vsuch as will enable others skilled in the art towhich it pertains to make and use it, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, which forin part of this specification.

My invention relates to an improvement in journal-boxes; and it consistsin small boxes made in the sides of the journal-box, and which are to belled with tallow or grease, so that when the lubricating-oil has beenexhausted, and the box begins to heat, this tallow or grease, which hasbeen heldin reserve, will be melted and lubricate the bearings.

The accompanying drawings represent my invention. l

a represents the journal-box, having both of its ends inclined downwardtoward the center on its inside, so that all the oil poured into the boxthrough the usual cover c on its'outside end willilow down to the centerand lubricate the journal at this point. Through the sides of the boxare made the openings d, outside of which are the inclined boxes c,which boxes are covered over with the 4slides or covers g, which movevertically in the dovetailed ways 't' on the side of the box. Theseboxes c are filled with tallow or hard grease, which is held in reserveuntil the oil in the box becomes exhausted and the bearings begin toheat, when this tallow or grease melts and runs down into the center ofthe box, takes the place of the oil, and lubricates the bearings. In thetop of the inside of the box is formed a double shoulder or thickness,j, which iits down into the center of the brass, and causes the wholeweight of the car to bear down evenly upon the whole of all the brasses.Where this shoulder is not used the wear upon the brasses is uneven, andthey generally have to be removed before they are half worn out w'hereit is used, the wear upon the brasses is so even and regular that theyare entirely worn out before new ones are necessary.

The journal-boxes are only supplied with oil at the principal stationsor cities, and if the cars were always kept in motion this would answervery well 5 but the cars are often run on the side tracks and leftstanding for a week or so. During this time the oil dries up, and thenwhen the car is again brought into use the axles are not lubricated, andthey at once begin to heat and burn. Where my boxes are used there isalways a quantity of oil or grease held in reserve for just suchoccasions.

I am aware that an auxiliary box for containing lubricating-oil has beenplaced upon the journal-box, the said oil-box having holes through itsbottom, which are plugged up with tallow, so that when the box heats theplugs will be melted and discharge the oil upon the axle; but in thiscase the whole quantity stored away is emptied into the box at once,while in mine the tallow is only melted as it is needed, and is notliable to evaporate while the car is standing idle on the side track.

Having thus described my invention, I claim- A journal-box, incombination with a receptacle or receptacles containing solid grease,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing, I have hereunto set my handthis 5th day of January, 187 5.

JOHN RHOA-DS.

Witnesses:

THos. H. CLARKE, JAMEs RHoADs.

